Not long ago I was contacted by some folks who have been working hard on a show called Hitting Rock Bottom. It tells the real stories of people who have struggled with addiction, hit rock bottom, and found a way out. Unlike reality television that often turns tragic stories about addiction into entertainment, this show has… [Continue Reading]
Craving and Addiction
I am excited to announce that a new book is out today from my colleague, Dr. Omar Manejwala. He is the former Medical Director of Hazelden (one of the oldest and most respected treatment organizations in the world), and current Chief Medical Officer of Catasys, an innovative health management company focused on treating substance abuse problems. I was fortunate to… [Continue Reading]
Addiction and the Perennial Philosophy
We have known for a long time that among the most powerful ways to overcome addiction is through spiritual interventions. The essence of such approaches is that addiction is a problem of the ego, of our lower self, of the body. By harnessing the powers and energy from our higher self, from the part of us that… [Continue Reading]
Whose Will: Book on Addiction, Courage, and Hope
I had the recent pleasure of speaking with Willie Harris, the author of Whose Will: Ordinary Person, Extraordinary Life a riveting account of his personal struggle with addiction and path back to a spiritual and connected life. Like most, the roots of Willie’s problems with alcohol and drugs began early in life, in a family awash in… [Continue Reading]
Why Treatment Fails Patients
I wrote a paper about this topic some time ago, but thought I would post a more parsimonious version of the top 10 reasons treatment fails patients. The point is not to suggest that treatment is always ineffective, just that we have a long way to go to optimizing it for those who struggle overcoming addictive… [Continue Reading]